Refrigeration



Aug. 23, 1932. I c TANGER v 1,873,508

REFRIGERATION Filed Aug. 9, 1950 INVENTOR C. H. TANGER ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHELTON H. TANGER, OF EVANSVILLE-INDIANA, ASSIGNOR '10 SERVEL INC., OI NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATION Application filed August 9,1930. Serial No. 474,152.

i This invention relates to refrigeration and more particularly to devices for forming ice cubes so that they may be quickly removed from the receptacle in which they are formed. Particularly the invention contemplates a flexible cover for an ice tray which will not retard the freezing action of ice cubes and which will serve as a receptacle or holder for them when they are removed and permit ready individual detachment for use.

The invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application.

In said drawin Fig. 1 is a longltudinal section illustratin one application of the invention;

Fig. 2 an inverted perspective; and

Fig. 3 a fragmentary detail section.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates a metal tray of conventional construction having a hip or shoulder 11, this hi or shoulder at the side of the tray being a apted to engage supporting ledges, not shown. The tray 2 may be supported by having its bottom rest directly on and in contact with a shelf. The metal tray 10 ordinarily receives a metal par tition member not shown, and is filled with water or other substance to be frozen for formin cubes. Thesaid metal tray forms no part 0' the present invention.

The invention comprises a flexible cover 12 which has a depending marginal flange 13, and a depending grid formed by transverse and longitudmal partition webs 14 and 15 respectively tapered from edge .to edge as shown. The marginal flange 13-serves to maintain the cover on the tray in proper position, and while it is shown extending entirely around the edge of the cover, obviously it may be of shorter length. The depending webs or partition members 14 and 15 are preferably formed integrally with the body of the cover 12, as shown, and are of such length that they contact the bottom of the metal tray with which the cover is used. This causes a complete separation of the cubes formed in the tray. The depending webs or partition members are tapered outwardly 59 from the cover 12 and are of the proper thickness. consistent with durability and utility. The body of the cover is also formed of a thickness to afford suflicient rigidity to permit it to be held in the proper position, but of sufficient thinness to permit it to be bent up at the corner to afford an opening through whichwater may be added to fillany unused part of the tray. The cover is preferably formed of a pure Para rubber or similar material which is soft and flexible. This permits the entire tray with cover to be removed from the freezing compartment of a refrigerator,

and to beheld under a faucet to loosen the cubes from the tray so that the metal tray can be removed. The cubesmay then be held on the inverted cover and one or more may be detached and removed as desired. On account of the depending partition members being flexible when the cubes freeze, the said depending members or flanges will yield and deformity of the metal tray and bulging of the ice above the tray will be prevented and the cubes will not be 'wedgedas tightly within the tray as in the case where the ordinary metal partition member is used.

In Fig. 3 is shown ametal tray '10 provided with no hipor shoulder 11 but with an outwardly turned supportingflange 11a. Also the flexible cover 12 is devoid of the depend ing flange 13 so that it terminates flush with the edge of the flange 11a. This construction permits the tray with cover to beslidinto a tighter compartment with out the flange of'the cover interfering. v

It will be obvious to those'skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention, and'the invention is not limited to merely what is shown and described, but 'onlyas indicated in the ap- Q0 relative to the tray.

anon-metallic material, and flexible non-metallic webs depending from said cover 'for defining inde endent compartments within said tray, sai webs being of a length to engage the bottom of the tray when the cover is in position. 7

5. The combination of a metal tray for containing material to be frozen, a non-me- 'tallic cover for said tray formed of flexible non-metallic material, flexible non'-metallic webs depending froms'aid cover for defining independent com artments within said tray, said webs being oa length to engage the bot- "tom ofv the tray when the cover is in position,

and a marginalflange form'ed on the cover for maintaining the cover in proper position 6. The combination with a tra havin good heat conductingproperties and adapte to contain material to be heated or cooled, of a cooperating cover for said tray formed. of flexible material havin' poor heat conducting properties, flexi 1e non-metallic webs de nding from said cover into contact with sai tray and defining independent compartments within said tray.

' -7. A cover for a metal ice tray, said cover being formed of flexible'non-metallic material and having an ice tray grid of similar material carried thereby and dependin therefrom, said grid being formed of tapere members. A I v 8. A cover for an ice tray, said cover being formed of flexible material and provided with flexible depending partition forming projections.

9. The combination of a tray for containing matter to be frozen, a cover for said tray formed of flexible material, and flexible webs depending from said cover for defining independent compartments within the tray. 10. The combination of a'tray for containing matter to be'frozen, a cover for said tray formed of flexible material, and flexible webs depending from said cover for defining independent compartments within the tray, said webs beingof a length to engage the bottom of the tray when the cover is in position. 11. The combination of a tray for containing matter to be frozen, a cover for said tray formed of flexible material, flexible webs depending from said cover fordefining independent compartments within the tray, and a marginal flange formed on the cover for maintaining the cover in proper position relative to the tray.

12. The combination with a tray having good heatvcondu ctin properties an adapte to contain matter to e heated or cooled, of a cooperating cover for the tray formed of flexible material having oor heat-conducting properties, flexible we depending from sa1d cover into contact with the tray and defining independent compartments within the tray.

13. A cover for an ice'tray, said cover being formed of flexible material and h'avin an ice tray grid of similar material .sup orted in dependin relation therefrom, sai grid being forme of tapered members.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

' CHELTON TANGER. 

